Warmer Than Usual Winter To Come?

So sayeth the National Weather Service. I wonder how accurate this forecast will prove to be?:

Government forecasters on Wednesday predicted a warmer than normal winter, offering hope to much of the Midwest and West as concern grows about the rising costs of heating during cold-weather.

The National Weather Service said there is a 60 percent chance of warmer than normal weather in the Dakotas, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, north Texas, northern New Mexico and southern and eastern Colorado.

States adjoining that area, plus Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Hawaii also have a chance of being warmer than usual.

Other regions could be warmer or cooler than usual but no area was singled out to be especially cold.